Suspended scaffold



Nov. 20 1923.

E. PITOU SUSPENDED SVGAFFOLD Filed Nov. 17, 1920 INVENTQR (w /@511 FM A TTOHNE Y Patented Nov. 2t 1923.

Edi?

EUGENE PITOU, 0F NEVI YORK, N. Y.

SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD.

' Application filed November 17, 1920. Serial No. 424,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE Prron, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspended Scaflolds, of which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates to scaffolds of the suspended type, such as are used in connection with the construction of buildings and their repair. scaffolds of this kind are usually supported by cables from depending outriggers and connected to drums disposed on opposite sides of the platform of the scaffold. In adjusting scaffolds of thistype vertically the platform moves with a zigzag transverse motion due to the practice which consists in operating first the drums on one side of the platform then those on the other side. The ends of the put logs are alternately strained to a considerable extent by the zigzag motion of the platform, and this motion moreover exerts a great amount of lateral pressure on the said ends and often results in disengaging the put logs from their connection with the cable supports. 7

An object of the invention is to provide for interlocking the ends of the put-logs with a frame connecting the put-log with the cable supports, so that the parts are positively held against disengaging one from the other during the operation of adjusting the platform. Another object is to provide for a relatively considerable amount of flexibility between the put-logs and cable connecting means in order to effect a substantially uniform distribution of weight to the cables. To these ends the invention resides in certain constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and referred to in the which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a wall frame showing a suspended scaffold provided with the device of this invention; Figure '2 is. a transverse section taken through one end 'of the scaffold platform and showing the put-log in side elevation and partly broken away;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective showing the put 10;; and hanger arranged in drawings, in

. one position of adjustment;

spacing bolster; and

Figure dis a detailed perspective of a Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the hanger arranged for use in connection with a wide wheeling platform.

The wall 5 supports a series of Outriggers not shown, which are detachably connected at one end in any well known manner to the wall 5 and which at points between their connected and free ends are connected to the upper ends of cables 7, which extend downwardly from the Outriggers and connect to drums 8 of the hoisting device. The vertically disposed U-shaped frames a of the hoisting device provide means for connectin cables 7 to platform I) and further provice bearing supports for drums 8 and for the drum operating levers 9, the pawls 10 of which are arranged to cooperate with ratchet wheels on one end of the drums to rotate the same with a step by step motion. Pawls 11 also carried by frames 0. and engage with ratchet wheels 12 on the opposite ends of the drums operate to lock the drums against movement in one direction in the intervals between the step movements. The end portions of the planks 13 of the platform 5 bear on put-logs 0 extending transversely of said planks and which in the form 7 shown in Figure 2 consist of angle bars 11-15 disposed in spaced relation by intervening bolsters or spacing blocks 16 which are connected to the angle bars by bolts 17 secured by nuts 18 that pass through aligning openings in the angle bars and bolsters. In the form shown in Figures 2 and 3 the U-shaped frames at straddle the bolsters 16 and the latter have depending rounded extensions 1920, the convex surfaces 21 of which shown best in Figure 4 bear on the bases or horizontal portions 22 of the frames a. The ends of bolsters 16 are spaced for suitable distances from the sides 28 24; of the frame a so that an appreciable amount of lateral movement is afforded between the bolsters and frames at, but the heights of bolsters 16 resulting-from the presence of the extensions 1920 is such that the diagonal lengths of the bolsters is greater than the distance between the side portions 232 l. The purpose of the comparatively loose fit between the bolsters and frames 0. is to'so provide that when the platform has a slight dip laterally, the parts supported thereon will not be thrown onto the cables connected to the higher side of the platform, which would result in a case where a rigid connection is provided, between the cables and the lower side of the platform. Thus it will be seen that the device of this invention provides for substantially uniform distribution of weight to the supporting cables while the platform is in use.

In Figure 2 a series of aligning transverse openings 25 are shown provided in the angle bars 14-15, so that various adjustments of the bolsters 16 may be obtained between the angle bars whereby various widths of platforms may be had within the limits afforded by the lengths of the put-logs. It will be noted that the planks 13 of the platform Z) extend between adjacent U-shaped frames (6 and also between the sides 23 and 24 of said frames and that the U-shaped construction of the frames and the presence of the bolsters 16 therein operate to interlock the platform with the put-logs and the latter with the frames which are the connecting means between the platform and the supporting means. Obviously with this construction disengagement of the parts is positively prevented when the scaffold is operated with a zig-zag motion and thereby tilted in the operation of adjusting the platform vertically.

The form shown in Figure 5 is for use in connection with what is known in practice as a wide wheeling platform. This type of platform is used in connection with build ing construction which requires the use of barrows in transporting building material to various stations on the scaffold. In this connection the U-shaped frames (4 are arranged broadside or parallel with the direction of extension of platform 7) as distinguished from the form shown in Figure 2 wherein the frames 11 are arranged edgewise or at right angles to platform 7).

In Figure 5 the angle bars 14l-15 extend between the sides 2324 of frames (0 with one side. of each bar bearing on the base portion 22 of frame a. Here it will be noted that rounded surfaces 26 are provided where the faces of the sides of each bar join one another and thus provide bearing points for the curved surfaces 21 of the depending extensions 19-20 of the bolsters 16 which are secured against displacement in the U- shaped frames a by bolts 28 which pass through parallel openings in the angle bars and through openings in the sides 23-24 of the frame and openings 30 in the extensions 19 and 20 which are disposed at right angles to the openings 30. The bolts 28 are secured by the nuts 18. The length of the bolster 16 and the thicknesses of the sides of the angle bars 14--15 are such that when combined and disposed as shown in Figure 5 a slight spacing will result between the angle bars and the sides 2324:. This loose lit between the parts permits a slight turn- 'i-ng movement to be had between the putlogs and U-shaped frames at under conditions pointed out in connection with description of Figure 2. In connection with Figure 5 it is to be observed that the disposition of frames a is such that the obstructions presented by the hoisting drums and one side of the llshaped frames with the arrangement shown in Figure 2 will be avoided.

It is to beobserved from the foregoing that the bolsters and the angle bars provide for a maximum width of put-log with a generous bearing surface for the lapped end portions of planks 13, which as will be readily seen is of importance in a scaffold structure. This construction facilitates the operations of setting up and dismantling and also of arranging the parts of the scaffold into a comparatively small compass for transportation from place to place.

Although I have shown anddescribed an ideal embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that. various mechanical changes and arrangements may be made therein and these I reserve the right to make and use within the scope of the appended claims.-

I claim:

1. A scaffold comprising a put-log having side members arranged in parallel spaced relation, spacing blocks interposed between the side members and connected to the opposite end portions thereof, and supporting frames fitted loosely about the spacing blocks.

2. A scaffold comprising a put-log having side members arranged in parallel spaced relation, and each formed of a single length of anchor iron, spacing blocks interposed between the side members and adjustably connected to the opposite ends thereof, and supporting frames of less width than the spacing blocks so as to fit loosely within the put-logs and constructed to loosely receive the spacing blocks.

3. In a scaflold thecombination of a putlog consisting of a pair of side members arranged in parallel spaced relation, spacing blocks interposed between the side members and connected to the end portions thereof, and hoisting devices including U-shaped frames loosely connected to the end portions of the side members and to the spacing blocks.

4. In a scaffold the combination of a putlog consisting of a pair of side members arranged in parallel spaced relation, spacing blocks interposed between the side members and connected to the end portions thereof and hoisting devices including U-shaped frames loosely and adjustably connected to the opposite end portions of the side members of the put-log and locked'against disengagement from the put-log.'

5. In a scafl'old a combination of oppo sitely disposed hoisting devices including substantially U-shapedframes, put-logs loosely connected to the frames so as to permit them to pivot on the frames, said putlogs including spacing blocks: having dependin rounded portions bearing on the horizontal portions of said frames to facilitate pivotal movement of the put-logs relatively to the frames.

6. In a hoisting scaffold, the combination of a frame having side bars and a cross bar, a put-log comprising two spaced members, a bolster arranged between and secured to said members, bearing upon said cross bar and extending longitudinally thereof, the ends of said bolster having a limited tilting movement relatively to said frame.

7. In a hoisting scaffold, the combination of a frame having side bars and a cross bar, a put-log comprising two spaced members, a bolster secured between the members of said put-log and extending parallel therewith, bearing upon said cross bar, extendin longitudinally thereof, and having a limited tilting movement relatively thereto.

8. In a hoisting scafi'old, the combination of a frame having side bars and a cross bar, a put-log comprising two spaced members, angular in cross-section, a bolster secured at its ends between the members of said putlog by means of bolts extending longitudinally of said bolster, said bolster bearing upon said cross bar and extending longitudinally thereof, and having a limited tilting movement relatively thereto.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name 35 hereunder.

EUGENE PITOU. 

